Florida State vs. Nova

Should I go to Florida State University or Nova Southeastern University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Florida State or Nova is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Florida State University vs. Nova Southeastern University comparison
Florida State University Nova Southeastern University College 3 College 4
Florida State University Nova Southeastern University
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Overview

Florida State Nova
Location Tallahassee, FL Fort Lauderdale, FL
Setting Midsize City Large Suburban
Enrollment 44,161 20,948
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #199 #437
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website fsu.edu nova.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Florida State Nova
Tuition (In State) $4,022 $34,500
Tuition (Out of State) $16,540 $34,500
Room & Board $11,592 $14,588
Avg Net Price $14,003 $29,589
Avg Grant Aid $10,169 $23,958
% Receiving Grant Aid 89% 100%

Admission

Florida State Nova
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 78,088 16,789
Admitted 19,552 12,726
Acceptance Rate 25% 75.8%
Enrolled % 30.9% 15.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.7 3.99
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Very High Challenging
Applicant Competition High
ACT Range 26/31 20/27
SAT Range 1210/1370 1040/1310
Submit Test Scores Required to be considered for admission Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Mar 1, 2025

Academics

Florida State Nova
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Social Sciences (19%)
  • Psychology (5%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (5%)
  • Work and Family Studies (5%)
  • Business (28%)
  • Health Professions (24%)
  • Biology (14%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Education (8%)

Outcomes

Florida State Nova
Graduation Rate 74% 43%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $51,400 $53,300
Making Student Loan Payments 63% 44%
Median Student Loan Debt $20,750 $25,100
Median Loan Payment $214 $259

Diversity

Florida State Nova
% Men 42% 28%
% Women 58% 72%
Racial Diversity Medium Very High
HBCU No No
% White 64% 31%
% Black 8% 18%
% Hispanic 19% 32%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 1% 5%
% Unknown Race 1% 3%

Students

Florida State Nova
% In-State 85% 56%
% Out-of-State 14% 39%

Campus

Florida State Nova
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Florida State University is larger than than Nova based on total student enrollment (44,161 students vs. 20,948 students)

Florida State vs. Nova Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Florida State or Nova?

  • Nova Southeastern University is 757.8% more expensive to attend than Florida State for in-state tuition ($34,500.00 vs. $4,022.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 108.6% higher at Nova than Florida State University ($34,500.00 vs. $16,540.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Florida State University than Nova ($14,003 vs. $29,589)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Florida State University are 25.8% lower than costs at Nova Southeastern University ($11,592 vs. $14,588)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Nova Southeastern University than Florida State University (100% vs. 89%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Nova Southeastern University students is 135.6% larger than aid received Florida State University ($23,958 vs. $10,169)

Florida State vs. Nova Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Florida State or Nova? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Nova or Florida State .

  • The average SAT score at Florida State University (1215) is 85 points higher than at Nova (1130)
  • Incoming Florida State students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at Nova (26)
  • Accepted freshman Nova students have a 0.29 point higher average high school GPA (3.99) than students at Florida State (3.7)
  • Nova has a higher acceptance rate (75.8%) than Florida State (25%)

Florida State vs. Nova Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Florida State or Nova? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Nova and Florida State.

  • The graduation rate at Florida State is higher than Nova Southeastern University (74% vs. 43%)
  • Graduates from Nova Southeastern University earn on average $1,900 more per year than Florida State graduates after ten years. ($53,300 vs. $51,400)
  • Florida State University students graduate with a $4,350 lower median federal student loan debt than Nova graduates. ($20,750 vs. $25,100)
  • Florida State graduates are paying $45 less per month on federal student loans than Nova graduates. ($214 vs. $259)
  • More Florida State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Nova students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 44%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/